Tugboat Mate Who Aided in Ferry Crash May Get Reward
By Staff Reporter of the Sun | February 15, 2008
A mate on the tugboat that aided the damaged Staten Island ferry after the deadly 2003 crash is eligible to receive an award potentially millions of dollars, a federal judge in Brooklyn ruled.
At issue is a maritime law that provides rewards for ships that help other vessels that are in danger. A mate aboard the tugboat Dorothy J., Robert Seckers, claims his services to the Staten Island ferry, the Andrew J. Barberi, ought to qualify. In an opinion issued yesterday, Judge Edward Korman said Mr. Seckers and the marine company he worked for did qualify for an award from New York City. The amount will be determined at a later hearing.
